Cast & Crew
Sina Ataeian Dena
Director
Sina Ataeian Dena was born in 1983 in Ahvaz, Southern Iran, in the middle of the Iran–Iraq war. After quitting his studies in physics, he started working in film, made short animations and video arts, worked as a visual effects and video supervisor in cinema and theater, as well as a story developer for computer games.
With his thesis „The influence of comic books on cinema“ he got his B.A. in film from Sooreh University Tehran in 2008. In 2009 his animation „Especially Music“ won “Best Film” in the international competition of Tehran Short Film Festival. He then directed several concerts, commercials, TV cartoons and documentaries.
Meanwhile and for over 3 years, Sina shot his first feature film without official permission. PARADISE is the first part of his Tehran trilogy about violence.
Dorna Dibaj
Lead Actress
Dorna was born in 1990 in Tehran where she grew up.
At age 12 Dorna started taking painting classes with Aydin Aghdashlou for four years. In 2007 Dorna graduated from high school majoring in mathematics and physics.
Dorna studied sculpturing at the “Art” University of Tehran. She had several art performances, installation-, painting- and sculpturing exhibitions in Tehran.
In PARADISE Dorna acted in a film for the first time.
Yousef Panahi
Producer
Yousef was born in 1972 in Tehran. From childhood on he was involved in film business due to his older brother Jafar Panahi. He coordinated the logistics of productions and played small roles in his brother’s films. Besides he build up his own business. In 2006 he started his career in cinema and TV as a production manager and executive producer. Also he was the producer and executive producer of several Iranian Art House films like THIS IS NOT A FILM and TAXI by Jafar Panahi. Recently Yousef started a new platform to develop and produce Iranian avantgarde films, PARADISE is one of these films.
Amir Hamz
Producer
Amir Hamz was born in 1979. In 2001 he got his Bachelor of Arts in French Literature (Hamburg, Germany). 2004 Master of Fine Arts in Documentary Film (London, England). 2008 Master‘s in Journalism and Political Sciences (Hamburg, Germany). From 2004 on Amir directed and produced several documentaries, music videos and short films. He also worked as a Development Producer for “MME Moviement“. From 2011 to 2014 Amir was Producer and Head of Development at “Millbrook Pictures” in Berlin & Zurich. He initiated the “SCHOLARtreat” Writers Program and the „Millbrook Writers Award” in cooperation with “Hof International Film Festival”. In 2015 Amir produced „DER NACHTMAHR“ and “PARADISE” as well as the movie adaptation of Martin Suter’s bestselling novel „THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON“.
Lajos Wienkamp Marques
Sound Designer
Born and raised in Bielefeld, Germany, it drew Lajos Wienkamp Marques 2008 initially for the music to Berlin. After a year of creative work as a songwriter and musician in various combinations, he discovered the film sound as his passion and began to study at the Film University KONRAD WOLF.
Incidentally several documentary productions like “Isang Yun – A fate between North and South Korea” (2013) took him abroad which made him discover his interest about all different cultures of our planet. When he met Sina Ataeian Dena in 2014 he was directly determined to accompany him for finishing his feature film debut PARADISE.
2016 he will finish expected to be Master’s degree (sound for picture) at the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF. While he specializes as a sound designer, he continues to work in all fields of film sound and music.
Gregor Bonse
Re-Recording Mixer
Born in Bielefeld, Germany, Gregor Bonse discovered film as his main creative medium after spending his youth in big bands, jazz and rock combos, musicals and theater.
After moving to Berlin and starting film school in 2007, he traveled to São Paulo to learn about Brazilian filmmaking and bossa nova music. During that time, he assisted at the JLS dubbing stages, where he worked on A SUPREMA FELICIDADE of the acclaimed Brazilian director Arnaldo Jabor.
In 2010, Gregor met the American visual anthropologist and filmmaker Damian John Harper, who took him to New York City to shoot TEARDROP, a collaboration that was continued later with LOS ÁNGELES in Southern Mexico. After participating in the European Film Academy’s master class ‘Sound of the Image’, he graduated summa cum laude from the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF and holds a degree as ‘Dipl.-Tonmeister für audiovisuelle Medien’.
While specializing in re-recording mixing, Gregor frequently accompanies selected projects through all stages of film sound and music.
